JPH0517780U - Remaining amount sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The present invention provides a low-cost sensor that can be easily attached to the outside of a container that contains a substance, has a simple structure, and is inexpensive. [Structure] A base 1, a balance plate 2 supported by the base 1 so that both ends thereof move up and down alternately, a load receiving plate 3 attached to one end of the balance plate 2, and the other end of the balance plate 2. The limit switch 4 is mounted on the lower surface of the balance so as to operate when the same end moves downward, and the weight 5 is movably mounted on the balance plate 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of substances such as liquid and powder, for example, a remaining amount sensor used for detecting the remaining amount of coffee in a coffee vending machine.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In the conventional type of this kind of remaining amount sensor that detects the remaining amount of liquid, for example, the method of detecting the displacement of the liquid inside the liquid tank is often used, and the mounting of the remaining amount sensor is troublesome. It was In addition, the structure of the remaining amount sensor is complicated and expensive.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 An object of the present invention is to provide a remaining amount sensor that can be easily attached to the outside of a container that contains a substance, has a simple structure, and is inexpensive.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the remaining amount sensor of the present invention is mounted on a base 1, a balance plate 2 supported on the base 1 so that both ends thereof move up and down alternately, and one end of the balance plate 2. Load receiving plate 3, a limit switch 4 attached to the lower surface of the other end of the balance plate 2 so that the lower end moves downward, and the balance plate 2 is movably attached. It is provided with a weight 5.

[0005]

[Action]

 The bottom surface of the container containing the liquid or the like is placed on the load receiving plate 3. When liquid etc. is discharged from the container and the weight of the container decreases, one end of the balance plate 2 on the side where the load receiving plate 3 is attached rises and the balance plate on the opposite side where the limit switch 4 is attached. When the other end of 2 goes down and the liquid etc. decreases to a certain set value, the limit switch 4 operates to detect the remaining amount of the liquid etc.

[0006]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the base 1 has a mounting plate portion 7 having mounting holes 6 and 6 ', and side wall portions 8 and 8'which are vertically bent upward at both lateral ends thereof. A shaft 9 is installed between the side wall portions 8 and 8'on both sides thereof. Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the balance plate 2 has a top plate portion 11 having a long and narrow through hole 10 formed in the front-rear direction at a substantially central portion thereof, and a side wall portion 12 vertically bent downward at both lateral ends thereof. , 12 ', and the shaft 13 is installed between the side wall portions 12, 12' on both sides at the front end thereof. The balance plate 2 is placed on the base 1 so that the side wall portions 12 and 12 'thereof overlap with the outer surfaces of the side wall portions 8 and 8'of the base 1, and the side wall portions 12 and 12' are A portion near the front end is pivotally attached to both ends of a shaft 9 attached to the base 1. Therefore, the front end and the rear end of the balance plate 2 are vertically moved alternately. Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the load receiving plate 3 has a top plate portion 14 having a flat upper surface and side wall portions 15 and 15 'vertically bent downward at both lateral ends thereof. The parts 15 and 15 'are put on the front end of the balance plate 2 so as to overlap the outer surfaces of the side walls 12 and 12' of the balance plate 2, and the rear ends of the side walls 15 and 15 'are covered. The points are pivotally attached to both ends of a shaft 13 attached to the balance plate 2. Next, the limit switch 4 is fixed to the inner surface side of the side wall portion 12 at the rear end of the balance plate 2 as shown in FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the weight 5 has a screw hole 16 that opens vertically in a substantially central portion thereof, and is arranged below the top plate portion 11 of the balance plate 2 so that the balance plate 2 A screw 17 attached so as to penetrate the through hole 10 formed in the plate portion 11 is inserted into the screw hole 16 and screwed. When the screw 17 is tightened, the weight 5 is fixed to the balance plate 2 at that position, and when the screw 17 is loosened, the weight 5 becomes movable with respect to the balance plate 2 within the moving range of the screw 17 in the through hole 10. Therefore, the center of gravity of the balance plate 2 can be moved by changing the position of the weight 5. A scale plate 18 for positioning the weight 5 is attached to the upper surface of the top plate portion 11 of the balance plate 2 beside the through hole 10 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the remaining amount sensor is arranged on a cradle 20 on which a container 19 containing a liquid or the like is placed and the base 1 is fixed, and as shown in FIG. The bottom of the container 19 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the plate 3. When the amount of liquid or the like inside the container 19 is still sufficient, the front end of the balance plate 2 is pushed down by its weight as shown in FIG. 4, and the limit switch 4 attached to the rear end on the opposite side is turned off. The balance is maintained, but when the amount of liquid, etc. inside the container 19 decreases to the set value, the balance of the balance plate 2 reverses and the rear end of the balance plate lowers. The switch 4 becomes ON and operates. Therefore, the user can confirm the remaining amount of liquid or the like. The set value of the remaining amount of liquid or the like can be changed by moving the weight 5.

[0008]

[Effect of the device]

 The present invention is as described above. Instead of detecting the remaining amount by using the displacement of liquid or the like as in the past, the remaining amount is detected by using the change in weight. Since it is not necessary to mount the substance inside the container for storing the substance, but it can be mounted outside the container, the mounting work is extremely easy and simple. In addition, the structure is not so complicated and it is easy to manufacture, so that it can be offered at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upper surface side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lower surface side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an installed state.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which the remaining amount is detected.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 base 2 balance plate 3 load receiving plate 4 limit switch 5 weight 6, 6'mounting hole 7 mounting plate part 8, 8'side wall part 9 shaft 10 through hole 11 top plate part 12, 12 '
Side wall 13 Shaft 14 Top plate 15, 15 'Side wall 16 Screw hole 17 Screw 18 Scale plate 19 Container 20 Cradle

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A base 1, a balance plate 2 supported on the base 1 so that both ends thereof move up and down alternately, a load receiving plate 3 attached to one end of the balance plate 2, and a balance plate 2. A remaining amount sensor having a limit switch 4 attached to the lower surface of the other end so as to operate when the same end moves downward, and a weight 5 movably attached to the balance plate 2.